Major police raid targets L.A.'s notorious Avenues gang

Hundreds of police officers and federal law enforcement agents launched a major assault on the Avenues gang this morning, hoping to deal a blow to an elusive group they say is responsible for some of Los Angeles' most notorious street crime.

Under the cover of darkness around 3 a.m., roughly 1,200 heavily armed officers from the Los Angeles Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and several other agencies dispersed from a command post near the LAPD’s training academy in Elysian Park.

Warrants in hand, they descended on dozens of homes in search of 53 alleged members or associates of the Avenues gang wanted on an array of federal charges related to extensive drug dealing, unsolved murders and other crimes.

Forty-three suspects already are in custody on unrelated charges. The operation was aimed to bring new charges against 88 Avenues members or associates, a significant share of a gang that is believed to have about 400 members. 

Some suspects were sought elsewhere in the city, but the sweep focused on Glassell Park and other neighborhoods in the northeastern reaches of Los Angeles -- the center of Avenues territory since the gang first surfaced in the 1950s.

There were no reports of officers encountering armed resistance. San Bernardino sheriff's officers say they shot two aggressive dogs they encountered at one location.

It was not immediately clear how many of the suspects had been found at their homes and taken into custody. The names of the suspects and the crimes they were accused of also were not immediately known, pending the unsealing of the indictments.

The arrests culminated a yearlong investigation of the gang run by a unit of LAPD detectives that specializes in gang-related homicides and a DEA task force.

The Avenues came under scrutiny in the wake of the August 2008 slaying of Juan Abel Escalante, a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy. Escalante, 27, was gunned down outside of his parents’ Cypress Park home early in the morning as he headed to work as a guard at the Men’s Central Jail.

LAPD detectives led the murder investigation into the killing because it occurred within city boundaries. Within days of the shooting, agents from the DEA task force, which had previously investigated the Avenues, came to the LAPD with information they had gathered that indicated members from the gang may have been responsible.

That tip led to the arrest in December of two Avenues members in connection with the murder. Months later, a third member was taken into custody, and charges were brought against a fourth, who remains a fugitive. In the course of investigating the Escalante killing, however, the LAPD detectives and DEA agents delved into the inner workings of the Avenues and began compiling evidence related to a host of other alleged crimes.

Some of the information was collected during interrogations of Avenues members and others from the neighborhood who had been arrested by a special team of 54 uniformed gang officers deployed in the area. Much of the incriminating information, however, came from the suspects themselves as DEA agents secured approval from federal judges for an array of wire taps that allowed them to listen in on gang members’ phone conversations.

"They could have just stuck with Escalante," said LAPD Capt. Kevin McClure, who oversees the detective unit. “They could have said, ‘We got what we came for,’ packed it up and moved on to something that would have been easier. This operation was not a result of me telling them they have to do this. It is a result of this unit saying, ‘There is more here, let’s keep going.’ ”

Over the course of the investigation, cases were built against Avenues members for their alleged roles in six other unsolved murders and four attempted murders, said a top LAPD gang detective involved in the operation. He requested that his name not be used because of concerns over retaliation by Avenues members.

The bulk of the charges are for extortion and other crimes that Avenues members and associates allegedly committed as part of the gang’s extensive drug trafficking in the area, police say. Most of the Avenues members included in the indictment are being charged under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which allows prosecutors to pursue more serious prison sentences. At a planning briefing last week with representatives from the agencies involved, there was little question as to what had kept the group motivated.

With the auditorium at LAPD headquarters filled with a few hundred officers, a recording was played of the phone call Escalante’s wife made to a 911 dispatcher after discovering him in the street. “If anyone has any doubt about the rationale or reason behind this operation, it was this,” a detective said.

At the meeting, officers reviewed the complicated logistics involved in a gang sweep of such a large magnitude. With more than a dozen targets located on one street alone, the routes each team of officers would take and the order of their deployment had to be painstakingly planned.

Officers were instructed to bring suspects back to the command post for processing wearing only clothes and a pair of shoes. Any jewelry, cellphones or other belongings would clog up what promised to be an already hectic assembly line of alleged criminals.  Staff from the state’s Child Protective Services department would be on hand to handle children found in any of the homes, officers were told.

The gang, named for the avenues that cross Figueroa Street,  has a long, ugly history dating back at least to the 1950s, when it was linked to many shootouts and killings. It is thought by some that the group’s origins can be traced back to some of the hundreds of families displaced from Chavez Ravine, now home to Dodger Stadium, and the Rose Hill areas.

The group’s insignia, which many members have tattooed on their bodies, is a skull with a bullet hole, wearing a fedora. Various cliques of the Avenues claim Highland Park and parts of Cypress Park, Glassell Park and Eagle Rock as their territory. It is linked closely to the Mexican Mafia prison gang, which demands that the Avenues and other Eastside gangs send up a share of the taxes they collect from low-level drug dealers and others selling goods on their turf.

Today’s sweep is hardly the first time law enforcement has taken on the Avenues. In 2002, the city attorney won an injunction against the gang, making it illegal for members to congregate throughout much of Highland Park, Glassell Park, Cypress Park and Eagle Rock. A few years later, federal prosecutors won hate-crime convictions against Avenues members for the killings of three black men between 1995 and 2000.

Government attorneys argued that the Avenues launched a campaign of violence to force black people out of the Highland Park area in the 1990s and targeted the men simply because of their race. In 2007, the city used a narcotics-abatement lawsuit to shut down the home of a family at the center of the Avenues' Drew Street clique.

At the time, then-City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo called the house the gang’s “mother ship.” In February of last year, the gang re-erupted into the city’s public consciousness when policy say Drew Street members  gunned down a man as he stood on a curb holding his 2-year-old granddaughter’s hand.

They brazenly took on police in a running gun battle, firing at officers with an AK-47 assault rifle in broad daylight. Most recently, in June 2008, the DEA task force that came to LAPD detectives with information on the Escalante killing conducted a similar, but smaller, operation to the one carried out today. That investigation named 70 defendants.

At the time, LAPD officials assured residents of the area that they would work to keep the gang from reclaiming control of the neighborhoods. Drug activity in the area has slowed considerably in recent months, the detective said, but considering the size of today’s operation, the gang clearly has maintained a commanding presence in the area.

"They’ve owned that community for a long, long time," the detective said. "Only time will tell for sure, but I think this will be a blow that will finally make a lasting impact."

-- Joel Rubin

Photo: Several men suspected of being members or associates of the Avenues gang are held in a booking area after being arrested during a predawn raid. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Take'em all down!!]

Great job LAPD!!

Being Mexicano Americano myself, I can tell you it is this scum who have given our raza a bad name! Most stereotypes come from idiots like these who have nothing better to do! If our parents came to this country to better our lives; then we need to take advantage of it!

I say we send all these gangbanger back to Mexico or their countries of origin along with their parents because there were not watching over their kids. Why would anyone bring a child into this world, if they are not capable of taking care of them. This is the root of the problem! You have some of these gangbanger parents who are absence all day. Some of these parents work as many as three jobs, just so that little johnny can have a better life. Problem is who is watching johnny while you are at work? Yeah!! No one!! Free to roam the street and do whatever he wants.

I say there be a law for anyone caught gangbanging; if they can't prove they are law abiding citizen then we send them all back to the motherland including their parents!

I tell say to all the scum out there, if you have nothing better to do then gangbang; why don't you start by cleaning up your so called turf? Man it is flithy!! Should be ashame to even let people know that you live there!! Man even maps.google.com pickups up all the trash in your neighborhood!! What a dump!!

[Krystek]

...I participated in the operation this morning. On behalf of all the law enforcement agencies and the hundreds of officers that were there, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

Reading your comments just gave me a boost of energy to keep it up. For those who said that law enforcement is only reacting because a cop was killed, I say this... We're working the problems every day, in every way....but it's the ultimate ofront on our civilized society when a law enforcement officer is killed. The hills have to shake when that happens....or we'll loose our hold. Once the cops are hiding, we've all lost.... Just look at what Mexico is going through...

[Tee]

I agree with Emobb.... yes gangs will always be-its social arena that will only slow down and starting with children in Jr High- that's the most crucial point... too bad how much to bring them all down wasn't used decades ago on programs.. then when a program is in place - City pulls the funds... you cannot save them all but with mentors you can save plenty...

Peace & Thank you LAPD - I know it is not easy the revolving door...

PS: They are NOT all mexicans... you have all of Latin America mixed and they come from VIOLENT places -

[BORN & RAISED IN DREW.]

I THINK THAT IF THE GOVERNMENT WOULD GIVE OPPORTUNITES TO ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE NOTHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN SO IN MY PERSONAL OPINION ITS THE POLICE & THE GOVERNMENTS FAULT FOR NOT BEING EQUAL.SO TO ALL THAT ARE SAYING THAT ITS A GOOD JOB THINK IF ITS REALLY THE GANG MEMBERS FAULT.

[Learn how to spell]

Hooked on phonics didn't work for 'X OFFICER'

[David]

These gangs profit from the illegal drug trade. Take away that profit with drug law reform and the gangs will hurt.

It doesn't matter how much you spend on schools or give kids self esteem. The money and power that come from trading in illegal drugs will always be strong enough to create an endless supply of criminals. It's all about supply and demand. Maybe if our schools focused on economics we'd learn that.

Drug reform is the only long term solution. But this was at least some relief to the people of that community. For that the police deserve a thanks! Who cares what their motive was...

[Ichigo kurosaki]

Man I always hated that gang it's about time that someone did something about them terrorizing our neighborhood.

[Ichigo kurosaki]

I'm glad they did this to those low lives I hope they all go to jail and stay there. Good job LAPD . Oh and by the way this is an alias

[Avenues Paint Sniffer]

We love to steal rob and bullie innocent people. Of course when somebody does this to us, we cry and throw tantrums of unjustice.

We expect the Police to treat us with utmost respect and be perfect. While we destroy innocent peoples lives.

We are hypocrites. Most Gang members are. We treat others like garbage, yet we want to be treated like royalty.

We are insecure macho wannabees who really like to dress and wear pink underwear.

[Bruin_Bry]

Can we just dump these worthless animals in the pacific ocean? Too cruel? Not for these cowards!

Remember Pablo Escobar? The LAPD should hunt these losers down in similar fashion. But it's America. We're just going to spend millions to house, feed, and provide them healthcare for their short trips in prison.

[Chris]

Life in prison. These total scumbags live in the greatest country in the world and spit on it. To hell with them. Go cops! The only thing to match this scum are our worthless gutless leaders who allow these creeps to exist amongst us.

[Bob Marlin]

I live in the area and have personally witnessed two dead bodies on Figueroa Street while driving to or from home. No significant police response in either case. As a middle school teacher I've had contact with these gang bangers. Most are not illegals but are rather members of families that are made up of gang members. There's an entire sub-culture out there and frequently the entire neighborhood supports it.

[Glenda London]

My son was 13 not even a month when he was gunned down. Because his face was shown on lapd he spent 2 months in juvenile for a crime he didn't commit. yet no one cares it took me over 11 years to figure out that my child was dead. yet he was gods child and no one cared. he's been gone since 1995. I lived in hoover hood not by choice but to put a roof over my children's head I was a single mother of 7 and i was there 2 days exactly 2 days when the police showed up I had sent my son to take out the trash neighbors hollered up the police had my child they (as in lapd) had a gun to my son holding up to the brick wall and told him he would be a gang banger and they would be back to get him. my son was 8 years old then and never knew anything about a gang.. I pray the violence stops not only with the gangs but also with the authorities. I am from a mixed family and have be crucified by the police since the beginning. I know you are probable asking why am i writing to you about my dead child he didn't deserve it as no one deserve to die by the hands of another. I don't have to worry though because god will judge everyone who has harmed my child and children . thank you for your time.. My heart goes out to all who have lost a love one weather they was your child or your mother, brother or sister who ever they might be. I don't think anyone has the right to play god. the police act like gang banger, not all of them but a lot of them. they are not helping to solve the situation. Give the gang banger jobs educate them make them have other things on there mind other than getting high and killing people. most haven't even been off the street they grew up on.and know nothing but the street.life. some have a generation of their parents and their parents before them ect of being gang bangers. the system need to help the problem not keep it going. a person has to love and like themselves and even respect themselves before they can change their thoughts about others. your locking up these young gang bangers and still your not teaching them nothing.instead of using these prison to lock them up turn the prisons into a business of teaching them a trade and placing them on a job when they get through. teach then self respect. But thats the system for you.Again thank you for your time.sincerly grannyglenda

[dolores]

I am truly a girlfriend of one of the avenues gangmembers and my oponion to this artical is that I feel this raid wasn't a bad thing but at the same time it wasn't a good thing for those gangmembers out there who did commit crimes sell drugs and other law breaking rules desreved what they got... but for the guys who are avenues gangmembers and completely changed there lives around this really does suck... I'm now a single parent with a newborn child who's gonna have to raise my child on my own when my child had a great father who has a great job,goes to church reguarly and left his hood behind him!!!!! I'm very dissapointed because if these cops been investigating then they should have know which guys to take and which guys to just leave alone!!!!

This raid isn't going to slove anything because now that the big guys are gone it just gives a younger child that has been studying the gang an opportunity to step up create a new gang and become someone powerful as he use to look at that one gangmember before he was arrested!!!!

[Alma]

Great job, LAPD, DEA & everyone else involved! Seems that in last several months the hammer's come down hard on these uneducated lowlife thugs considering that other than today's raid, there was the one back on May 21, which was one of the largest in recent times, and there have been numerous other arrests inbetween. I live on a street where two doors down from me, someone was arrested in the May 21 raid, and he's been gone from the area for the last four months. Funny(but tragic)thing is that his dysfunctional family pretty much acts like nothing embarrassing happened. As if he only went away on some vacation or something. As if this is a commonplace occurrence(well, perhaps to families like this, it is). Since this guy looked like he was the major breadwinner in the family, once he got arrested, he was replaced with another relative who came to live with them with his wife and kid to contribute money to the household! That house already had various relatives coming and going and staying there temporarily, etc. so guess it wasn't a big deal. Amazing.

[Americans first]

Why don't the LAPS bust all the companies who hire illegals>? It's hard to find a job when you don't speak English.

[JB in P-Town]

The comment; "1200 heavily armed police officers to go after 53 gang members...of which 43 were already in custody. So that means there were 1200 officers going after 10 people? Seems like a tad bit overkill to me." Many have missed portions of the article. There were 96 warrants issued, 43 are already in custody, (they will be served in custody} The assembled law enforcement personnel were looking for 53 outstanding thugs and picked up almost all of them. The combined mutual-aid effort by law enforcement took a bite out of what has proven to be a blight on the northeast communities targeted. Avenues have been around for 50+ years and however they have evolved, either through original dynastic presence or recruitment of new members over the years, the fact remains that this scourge in these communities have been dealt a blow. They will regroup, however, not to the extent that previously led them to ply their deadly ways on these weary communities. Great Work brothers and sisters - continue to be safe, my thoughts and support are with you.
JB

[Anthony]

There will be no significant change in the Los Angeles environment. LA Street Gangs is a Culture and can not be rubbed out with just a simple police raid.
With thousands of gangs throughout Los Angeles the raid will only create a vaccum for young and up-and-coming cholos.
I don't live in Los Angeles anymore but from what I remember, LAPD was the largest gang in Los Angeles.
LAPD might have won this one battle but the AVENUES will win the war. Los Angeles belongs to the Chicanos. Viva La Raza. Y que?

[Timothy]

Seems like the only thing that really works is allowing responsible citizens to defend themselves and their neighbors. How many more decades of bloodshed of the innocent does it take to convince people that the police cannot be the hired gun watching over every home, every child and every citizen. It is not physically nor economically feasible. Neither is is feasible in every community to flood schools with every conceivable program under the sun hoping it will catch on somehow meanwhile taxing the citizen to the point that they don't even want to live there any more.

Freedom and safety and security are only made when all good citizens are doing their part to ensure it.

I know that, where "I" live, a gangster thinks twice before busting into a house. Most of us are legally armed and the laws back us up 100%.

[steve]

how many of these people are illegals? And Obama wants to extend medical benefits to them...????? Congrats to the Feds and locals for getting these guys off the streets...

[Shawn]

Only life sentences and the death penalty will cure the gang cancer destroying our country.

[SonoranSteve]

Great job LAPD!

[SonoranSteve]

Close the revolving door at the border!!!! Cuando vamos a decir- !Bastante!

[Old Rancher]

Simple solution, Bulls to Steers.
I'm a 65 year old Oregonian who in my youth spent several years working on a large cattle ranch.
Every year we would round-up the yearling bulls and castrate them, a process referred to as nutting.

There are two reasons for this practice;
(1) a steer yields more and better meat.
(2) more importantly a steer is far less aggressive or even docile.

This procedure is common by all cattle ranches worldwide, as it would be imposable to manage multiple un-castrated bulls due to the aggressive nature of the animal, the bull thereafter is referred to as a steer.

If this practice could be applied to habitual violent offenders the results would be;
(1) Greater deterrent to violent crime for fear of punishment.
(2) Lower jail and prison population.
(3) Fewer unwed mothers (less welfare)

[JOHN C]

An accurate story of LA and its illegal alien problem.